Nagasaki’s Peace Park

On a sunny afternoon I found myself on the way to the Peace Park. I wanted to pay a visit at the place where the great tragedy of the atomic bomb is being remembered. It was much more peaceful than I expected it to be, a place to quietly reflect on the past event and the future of nuclear weapons.

On August 9th 1945 at 11:02 a.m. the lives of Nagasaki’s inhabitants changed forever when an atomic bomb was dropped in the city’s Urakami district. Thousands of people lost their lives or loved ones. Nagasaki Peace Park was created to represent the wish for world peace and prevention of such war to be repeated. Its main vocal point is the Peace statue built in 1955 by Seibo Kitamura.

The eyes are lightly closed in prayer of the atomic bomb victims. The right hand pointing at the sky warns about the threat of the atomic bomb, the left hand raised horizontally symbolises the wish for peace.

The Fountain of Peace is also to be found in the park, built in remembrance of the people that died begging for water after the atomic bomb explosion. There are another couple of monuments placed throughout the park, donated by various nations from around the world.

If you want to visit the hypocentre of the atomic bomb you will have to walk to the Hypocenter Park, which is located only a short walk south from Peace Park. The hypocentre of the explosion is marked by a black monolith built in 1968. Close to the monolith stands a small part of the original front wall of Urakami cathedral. South-west of the monolith a bronze statue of a mother holding her child with the exact time of the bombing is found.

Visiting Nagasaki’s Peace Park is a must if you find yourself in the city. It’s impressive and will leave you positive and full of hope with the future. I was deeply touched by my visit to both parks and highly recommend taking the time to take a look at the Atomic Bomb Museum and its exhibitions as well.

To reach the Peace Park enter tram number 1 (blue) or 2 (black) bound for Akasako in front of Casa Noda at Goto-machi (28) station. Get off at the stop called Matsuyama-machi (20), cross the street and you will find an escalator that will bring you to the park’s entrance. There is no entrance fee.